- A group of researchers from the Yale School of Public Health has discovered how air pollution can cause a significant reduction in intelligence.
- China, which is known to have severe pollution problems, was the place where the researchers conducted their study.
- They claimed that more than 95% of the people globally are inhaling unsafe air, which can cause a decrease in the levels of intelligence.
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated that the drop in intelligence was calculated to have similar consequences as losing a year of education.
- Also, lower test scores in language and mathematics are linked with high pollution levels.
- Xi Chen, one of the researchers involved, said that several factors are deciding how much pollution affects a person’s mental strength.
- The researchers gathered data from the China Family Panel studies for 20,000 people and compared test values in particular regions with records of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide.
- The data revealed that the test scores were lower for people exposed to polluted air.
- A researcher from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Derrick Ho, said that the school had similar findings in exploring the same problem.
- High air pollution also links to oxidative stress, neuroinflammatory activity, and human cognitive decline.
- Aarash Saleh, a registrar in respiratory medicine in the UK and part of the Doctors Against Diesel campaign, added that air pollution can cause a reduction in intelligence and can also worsen our cognitive function.
- Road traffic builds up to air pollution, and vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution in residential areas.
- The government must act immediately to eliminate vehicles that are massively polluting our streets.
- Rebecca Daniels, from the UK public health charity Medact, also said that the atmosphere in the UK is illegally damaging the environment every day and threatening human health.
- The government must take action as quickly as possible to bring air pollution below legal limits as UK is now facing air pollution and similar problems.
- Some studies have also shown that breathing unsafe air or polluted air could take a few years off your life, especially if you already have a history of mental illness.
- Also, there are some polluted cities in the world, including Kanpur, Lahore, Kampala, Varanasi, Peshawar, Baoding, Xingtai. They are facing a lot of severe medical illnesses and breathing problems.
- Comment down below if you think we are globally facing medical problems due to air pollution and contamination.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!